Vibrant Nation

I had it on one foot, and it took about 18 months to heal. What worked best for me was wearing a night splint.  I think if I had found out about that earlier, I would have healed sooner.  It took a little getting used to, but it really helped.  Here's a link to an example of one.

http://www.amazon.com/Swede-O-Plantar-Fasciitis-Night-Splint/dp/B000636QAE

Yes, had it in one heel only though.  I had surgery and was up and about that day.  I did make the mistake of overdoing it on day two.  I felt well enough, but was on my feet too long and had lots of pain and swelling.  I started  a new job in a different city two weeks post op.  I had to wear flats (the doctor wanted me in sneakers).  I wore the athletic shoes at home only.  Recovery took some time.  I would say a good four weeks to feel recovered.  I would want to mention that I didn't wear heels for a year after the surgery.  But I have not had a bit of trouble since!

Nancy, I hope that the more conservative route works.  I treated conservatively for over a year with injections, foot gear and anti-inflammatory meds.  I just had to do something.  I hear that the procedures that they do now are not as invasive as what I had 15 years ago.

I just remembered that another thing that really helped was custom orthotics.  I had this problem years ago, and I still wear the same orthotics with most shoes, including when I run.  Havent had a reoccurence of plantar faciitis.

Several years ago, I had a terrible case of it in both feet. After about a year or so of extreme misery, I finally went to a prescriptive shoe store and was fitted with Swedish arch supports made of cork which I wore in my shoes. It was instant relief, but to heal the inflammation, I had to wear the supports in my shoes for the next year. I have been fine ever since, but now I always buy shoes that have arch supports built in so it doesn't come back.

has anyone tried accupuncture?

I understood from physical therapy that as the core weakens, commonly with age & women, posture changes & we pronate (walk more on the outside of the heel) which causes plantar fasciitis.  So, we need to strengthen the back side of our core: glutes and hamstrings.  Stretching can aggravate the pain, so do it, but be gentle.  There are so many good reasons to keep the core working.  We tend to think of core as only abdominals, but its also glutes and hams.  Good luck.

I'd had both heels in pain for almost 2 years...I tried exercises, stretches, heat, ice, massage, special expensive orthotics, shoes,  splints etc...nothing really helped. I'd gotten some relief with merril and born shoes with a slight heel, about 11/2 to 2 inches max but it was temporary. I could not walk barefoot or with sandals or flats of any kind...I teach nursing and when with students I am on my feet all the long day! This might seem far-fetched but I had to put two of my kids, who are in college in another city, on a gluten free diet for health reasons and I had to start it myself so that I could guide them with cooking....about three weeks into my new eating plan...with absolutely no wheat, barley, rye or oat products, I awoke one morning, got out of bed quickly and was astounded to find...about 7 feet from the bed...that I had ABSOLUTELY NO PAIN....that was amazing...I have continued with some stretching, a gluten free eating plan and most of my joint and muscle aches and pains (at 53 yo) are COMPLETELY GONE. We are all trully amazed...I think it had to do with the body's inflamatory responses...check it out. Have your doc's look into it.

I had plantar fasciitis in both feet at the same time and it was very painful.  It felt like I was walking on hot coals all the time. I was sent for physical therapy and the first thing that was said was I was wearing the wrong type of shoes. I have high arches so orthotics were not recommended - they usually work far better for flat or low arch people.  I had to buy a pair of really good runners - Nike New Balance - at the time were $ 110.00.  I had always worn cheap shoes with not enough support and in my working days, lots of high heels. I had to go to physiotherapy for about a year, ice the bottom of my feet at least twice a day, only wear good support shoes, inside and outside.  it was a long year but finally the pain went away and now I am very careful of the shoes I wear and I still have those Nikes - its been about 4 years now so they turned out to be a real good buy! no flat shoes at all!  everyone can have a different remedy because of their particular feet. Mine was not just heels - it was explained to me that it is a main muscle that runs from the heel to the toes and it gets inflamed/stretched. heel supports didn't work for me and I tried different kinds.  I hope you have better success - at least not last a year. 

Yes!  

Now, let me preface this comment with the note that I am not selling anything, including my services, a disturbing trend popping up in the forums lately. No website to push, no product to sell. (I'm getting really tired of all the self-promotion on the forums! Not talking about things like favorite mascaras - I mean the outright selling!) I'm just passing along what my doc told me, and what actually worked. Also note that each person's feet can be so different (arches, toe problems, etc) that it would still be a good thing to go to a podiatrist for a checkup if you can possibly afford to go.

As a lifelong person with a preference for bare feet or flip flops, I often wore cheapie shoes for work or dressing up. After all, they were coming off as soon as I hit the door at home!  One day with no seeming reason, I had the worst pain in my feet I could stand.  It hurt like crazy to stand up.  Once I'd been up walking for a while it was better, but once I sat down, I'd better have a great reason to get back up, as the feeling of walking on thumbtacks was going to start all over again.

I am overweight, so often, that is the first thing doctors fling out as the cure for every possible thing - lose some weight and it'll feel better.  (Anyone else have that?  LOL!  I can have the same problems that athletes have, but in my case, it'll be because I am fat. *sigh*)  Anyway, after getting the "lose some more weight" response from my primary doc, I went to a podiatrist for help.  After all, I had not gained a thing since the previous week, but suddenly neither foot wanted to talk to me, and I was miserable. 

As it turned out, I had plantar fasciitis (sp?)(PF) and heel spurs in both feet. No wonder I hated standing up or getting up first thing in the morning!  The main tendon that runs along the bottom of the foot had become inflamed somehow, and both feet at the same time.  The tendon response is to tighten up, and you get the pain from that. The podiatrist suggested a pair of ill-fitting shoes was likely to blame.  (Me?  With my K-Mart specials?  Nah!)  

I can't say it was a quick fix, although I wish it was!  I was told to take ibuprofen for the pain, stop wearing flip flops and really cheap shoes, and to do some foot exercises.  He also gave me orthotic shoe inserts, which really took away a lot of the pain of the PF. I was not getting enough arch support in my shoes, even though I did not have a high arch. The heel spurs were a little harder to get over, and they still get irritated from time to time.  

Not once did the podiatrist suggest it was weight, by the way.  It is a foot problem that anyone of any age and any weight can get.  However, I didn't learn about a good way to help get over it and prevent it from recurring until my husband hurt his shoulder and was in physical therapy.  As I was waiting for him one day, one of the therapists there noticed me rolling my ankles (my attempt to keep circulation going).  When he asked what was wrong, I explained the PF and how my feet were aching that day.  He gave me the simplest thing to do at home (or anywhere) to help them - roll a GOLF BALL around under my feet!  

Yup - that is it.  Home physical therapy, and it works!  Just roll a golf ball around under your bare or be-socked feet for a few minutes a day (or whenever).  It helps to keep that tendon stretched out and lessens the chance of inflammation. It has been like a mini-miracle for me, anyway. I keep one under the computer desk at home, and roll it around while checking email, etc etc.  I can say that I have not had any problems with PF since I got better from that very first round with it. I no longer wear flip flops though - it's never quite been the same for me. I make sure that my shoes have support, and only wear New Balance or Reebok tennies now. No more $10 flat shoes!  ;  )

I hope that helps someone's feet feel better today!

Two years ago, I was suffering from this and had been for nearly a year.  It was getting worse fast.  My sister said that her husband had gone to his sports physician because he was suffering from it also.  He's 63, lives at Rocky Mountain National Parks door and regularly climbs three or four 14,000+ peaks in a day...so it doesn't occur from lack of excercise!

His physician told him to ice his feet by freezing a two-litter soda bottle with water and then rolling it under each foot applying pressure, while sitting down two or three times a day.  It actually feels good!  If it is too cold, wear socks until you become accustomed to the cold.

The second step was something I had never heard before and a brilliant idea for flexing your feet.  Sit down, stretch both legs out in front of you, feet together.  Form the capital letters of the alphabet as large as possible. Yes, all 26 of them with both feet at the same time without moving your legs.  Form each letter with maximum stretch and as big as possible without moving your legs.  Why the alphabet?  The alphabet flexes your feet in all directions, rather than just flexing them up and down and in circles. My sister is a registered nurse, so despite my skepticism, I gave it a try.

I did this several times a day.  It was difficult at first.  My feet gave out halfway through. But I rested a minute and continued where I left off. It is difficult in part because a big reason for plantar fasciitis occurring is that the muscles of the feet have tightened up. Kind of like the tightening of all muscles of our bodies as we age, causing us to me much less flexible.  By day three, I was able to get through the whole alphabet without stopping.

I was very skeptical because I had tried so many things with no success but she is a registered nurse, so I gave it a try.

It worked!  Within two weeks, my pain was completely gone!  No arch supports, no surgery, only a little flexing and some bottle-rolling. I was completely amazed that it worked because I had researched all possible methods of relief ad naseum on the internet..for a year!  I suspected, though, that I would be doing this for the rest of my life.  Not true!

I still stick my feet out occasionally and form the alphabet but to be honest, maybe once or twice a month.  I figure it can't hurt.  I had only one more episode, but at the first sign I started doing the alphabet, again.  It was gone within two days and I haven't had any further symptoms.

Give it a shot.  It's inexpensive (the cost of a two-liter bottle of soda) and minumum time investment.  Please post if it works for you because it still seems too good to be true and both my brother-in-law and I may have been the exception, but I really think the odds of that are unlikely.

I know how painful plantar faciitis can be so I hope all of you find relief.

~ barbara

I have a heel spur on my right heel. The inflammation was so bad I had to take prescription strength Ibuprofen for 30 days and stay off my feet. When it finally went away I used CUSHI HEELS and special heal inserts under them. I used the same system on both heels so my back wouldn't bee thrown off balance and cause pain.  All well and good, I had no problem for over a decade so I walk about 7 miles a week with no problem. Now here I am 51 years old and weigh 190 pounds on a good day and now my LEFT heel hurts. The inflammation is on the outside edge of my heel and it never goes away. I cut back my walking to one mile 2 times a week, and see the Podiatrist. The X-ray says I have a heel spur and it's transferring the pain to the edge of my heel.  I insisted on the very painful cortisone shot because I heard it gives almost immediate pain.  I admit it still hurt for a week but at a lesser degree. Finally it went all the way away, and only acts up slightly if I take those one and a half mile walks I prefer. Now I'm heavy and I NEED to walk! HA! I got more prescription strength Ibuprofen but take very little of it. Also the Dr. gave me these special ARCH supports and said to remove the heel cushions! He said if I had higher arch supports the pain would go away and stay away more or less. he also said to come back for another cortisone shot if I needed it. (I didn't).  Since I didn't want to spend $20.00 on some cheap looking arch supports for the Dr's. office I buy all my arch supports at Walmart for under $10.00. I have a wide foot and use Men's arch supports.